Best friends

This is a gifted partnership with Baukjen.

I would like to think every mum is her daughter’s best friend but I’m not as naïve as that; I know many women struggle with their mother-daughter relationship, for whatever reason. I am thankful that my mum and I have a good enough understanding of each other so that we can be friends.

My mum has done an amazing job of being a single parent but she’s also encouraged a very open, honest and affectionate relationship with me all my life. I think this, coupled with enough discipline and boundaries growing up, is what has made us as close as we are. You can read more about my feelings about my mum in this post.  Now, having made it through the awfulness that was the teenage and menopausal years, we’re at a point where we can simply enjoy each other’s company.

What do we love doing most together? Probably having a coffee and a scone (doesn’t matter if it’s at home or out) together! We chat about everything, from the latest BBC drama to skincare and fashion. She liked Bodyguard, I preferred The Capture; she sees Kezia at In The Line Of Beauty more than I do now; and our fascination with Trinny Woodall knows no bounds – we share Trinny’s videos via Insta DMs and even trekked to Edinburgh earlier this year to meet her.

Of course, over the years I’ve learned that mums give the best fashion advice – always kind and encouraging but also brutally honest at times, you can always rely on mums for realistic feedback on your latest purchase or outfit ideas. They just want us to feel our very best so that we’re happy. I know that’s all I want for my kids, for them to be comfortable and happy in their own skin. So my mum has always been honest when it comes to fashion – sometimes I’ve listened, sometimes I wish I had listened, but always I know I can count on her for advice.

When I had this idea to style the same outfit for us both, she was more than accommodating but her winter styling was her own (she toyed with the idea of tan boots but I thought black would be better), and I breathed a sigh of relief when my spring style met her approval.

The idea came to me when I was browsing Baukjen’s spring/summer 2020 look book. I noticed that not only did they cast models of different ethnic backgrounds and sizes, but also of different ages – something I haven’t seen much of beyond Marks and Spencer. Baukjen is a brand I’ve worked with before – I love their entire ethos around sustainability, ethics and shopping with a conscience, and I am totally on board with the idea of investment purchasing not just in their higher end price points but in their brand values too. You can read a bit more about that in this post.

Mum and I decided to style the Wynne skirt (sadly out of stock already), Maggie crew neck jumper (currently on sale), and the Girlfriend jeans for you to see how all these pieces can work beautifully on women of any age and size, for any season, dressed up or dressed down. Each piece is gorgeous, but I would encourage you guys to make a purchase during the Baukjen sale or with my discount code (at the bottom of this post) so you can really feel the quality and get a bargain too. Some pieces are better than others, but for the most part Baukjen is a premium brand that will make you feel great thanks to the fabric, fit and colours. Along with good underwear, I think wearing quality clothes really makes a difference to how we look and feel.

Let us know which outfit you like, how you’d wear these pieces and if you’ve ever tried Baukjen yourself?

I’m delighted to have a discount code for you guys to use at Baukjen, which will give you 20% off all full-priced items from the SS20 collection. Use DD20SS at the checkout.

What We’re Wearing

jumper, Baukjen (gifted) – currently on sale
skirt, Baukjen (gifted) – currently out of stock, here’s the dress

What Mum’s Wearing

coat, old
bag, Modalu England (old) boots, old
bracelet and charms, Pandora

What I’m Wearing

trainers, Superga
bag, Furla at Bicester Village
scarf (round bag handle), Aspinal of London (gifted)
watch, Rotary at Livingston Designer Outlet
star bracelet, Missoma
chain link bracelet, a gift for my 16th birthday

Promotional Code: DD20SS – Terms & Conditions

This code offers a 20% discount on all full-priced items from the Baukjen SS20 collection from the 17 March until the 30 June 2020. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other Baukjen offer, internet offer or delivery offer unless specifically stated. Outlet, Sale items and Gift vouchers are excluded from the offer. All orders are subject to acceptance under Baukjen’s promotional terms and conditions.